JAGATSINGHPUR: THE Tigiria primary school of Balikuda in Jagatsinghpur district was locked up by villagers on Tuesday in protest against poor standard of mid-day meals being served to students.
The students alleged that they were served dal that was smelling bad and they refused to take it. Receiving information, villagers locked up the school in protest. They said children were being compelled to eat insect ridden dal in the school.
Subsequently, cluster resource centre coordinator Priyajit Biswal verified the rice and dal that were used for cooking mid-day meals and found them to be of old stock. The villagers opened the lock after headmistress apologised for using poor quality of items for cooking the meals. They, however, demanded that the headmistress be transferred from the school.
Block Education Officer of Balikuda Susant Mohanty said the assistant block education officer has been asked to inquire into the incident and accordingly, action would be taken.